Dealing With Potholes: How To Avoid Damaging Your Car
The nation’s road network is plagued by potholes, many of which can damage cars. Here’s how to safely navigate them…
Monitor Your Speed
It’s not possible to ‘fly’ over potholes, regardless of the size – so, don’t try it. Besides, sticking to a reasonable speed will actually make it easer to scan the road ahead of you for potholes. This will give you more time to react appropriately. In addition, it’s never a good idea to tailgate. It’s intimidating and dangerous; especially on roads riddled with potholes, which may cause the driver in front of you to brake suddenly.
Don’t Apply Your Brakes
You may feel tempted to apply your brakes when approaching a pothole. However, your tyres and wheels are much better at taking the brunt of the impact than your braking system is. Repairing the latter would also likely be much more expensive, too!
Watch Out for Ice and Water
The UK is infamous for its unpredictable weather. Rain water, snow and ice can easily conceal potholes and other forms of damage. When weather conditions are poor, be especially vigilant and keep your eyes open.
Keep Your Wheels Aligned
You may feel tempted to swerve out of the way of potholes. However, this can be dangerous if you’re on a busy road or not entirely aware of your surroundings. In addition, if you strike a pothole at an angle, you risk your wheels becoming unaligned. This can lead to uneven wear on your tyres and other damage to key components.
Inspect Your Vehicle
If you strike a particularly large pothole, you may want to park up somewhere safely and inspect the damage. If a part of your car has been damaged, you’ll want to note where the pothole is and to try to get a photo of it – this will help in securing compensation from the local authority that manages the road. Make sure to regularly inspect your cars wheels, tyres, brakes and suspension if you’re regularly driving on roads in a state of disrepair.
The UK Faces £13 Billion In Road Repair Costs – https://autoserve.co.uk/motoring-news/the-uk-faces-13-billion-in-road-repair-costs/
Pothole Damage Cost Drivers £1.7 Billion Last Year – https://autoserveclub.co.uk/blog/pothole-damage-cost-drivers-1-7-billion-last-year/
